Furat Ashraf

I am a partner in the international Employment Group in London. I provide strategic and practical solutions for clients on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious employment matters.

While I am based in London, I have an international focus, with extensive experience of supporting US multinationals with their employment law needs across EMEA and APAC. I lead the Tech & Comms group within the employment team and act for some of the Firm's biggest tech clients.

Most recently, I have supported a number of these clients on cross-border reductions in force, offshoring and other complex multi-jurisdictional change management exercises such as a transition to, or away from, remote working. I have also advised extensively on global policy and contract reviews, together with other compliance-related exercises for companies with employees in multiple countries.

In addition to the above, I also support clients on the TUPE aspects of outsourcings and business transfers and advise on the full spectrum of day-to-day employment law issues including unfair dismissal, unlawful deductions from wages, whistleblowing and discrimination cases, as well as commission disputes.

I advise a broad range of tech clients, have deep sector expertise and have spoken publicly on a number of key topics including employee activism, the legal challenges of implementing a global D&I strategy, managing your workforce in a time of economic uncertainty and the intersection between generative AI and employment law issues. I have also led and developed content for the Women in Tech powered by Bird & Bird initiative, an international platform for Bird & Bird's network to connect with and learn from one another, and also to celebrate underrepresented groups operating in the tech sector.

• A global clinical research organisation: I advise on day to day HR issues including disciplinary and performance management cases and coordinate advice on employment matters across Europe.
• A listed construction company: I act as UK counsel in respect to ongoing group litigation in the Employment Tribunal and provide commercially focussed advice on the strategic considerations relevant to dealing with the same.
• A multinational apparel company: I act as a trusted employment adviser on a wide range of compliance and HR issues and most recently advised on a complex breach of confidence matter.